SKEENA CELLULOSE ENC. PAGE 7

Action committee improving safety

George Hayes fleff} and Dennis Powers spearheaded the first meeting
of the Community Action Committee that is making a difference to
highway safety on the stretch between Prince Rupert and Port Edward.

Ahandful of peapis representing the
communities of Prince Rupert and Part
Edward meet every two weeks with a
single objective in mind: to change the
way people think about traffic safety.

And in less than a year since their first
meeting, this Community Action Commit.
tee is proving that just a few people can
make a very big difference indeed,

The concept of the Community Ac-
ion Committee was launched with the
outrage of one man, George Hayes,
Training Co-ordinator of the Skeena Puip
mill on Watson Island, The object of his
anger was 4 15 kilometre stretch of
highway between Prince Rupert and
Port Edward — a road driven twice dai-
ly by employees of the mill — that had
Claimed seven lives in 1988 and hac
been the site of numerous motor vehicle
accidents.

Hayes took his concen to the mill's
Heaiih and Safety Committee. which in
tum took it fo various people in the cam-
munity. in February of 1989 Hayes, atong
with Dennis Powers of Local 4 of the Pulp
and Paper Workers of Canada sat down
with law enforcement agencies, ICBC
and other related parties to launch a
comprehensive traffic safety awareness
program.

“We have three key areas of focus,”
says Hayes. “Education, enforcement
and the co-ordination of programs.”

Prince Rupert Mayor Peter Laster is on
active member of the Community Action
Committee.

“The police will tell you that traffic
safety is 50 per cent enforcement and
50 per cent education,” he said. “The
RCMP can look after the enforcement
aspect. but it’s the people using the
toads whe have fo become aware of
the hazards ond be responsible for their
own actions. I'm invelved bacause Ir.
Personally very interested in what the
Committee is doing. My participation is
also very visible evidence of the City’s
support of, and carmmitment to, the pro-
gram."

Akey to the success of the Communi:
ty Action Committee is the involvement
of all parties concerned with traffic sate-
ty. In addition to Mayar Laster, Commit
tee members include Sgt. Mike Clarabut
of the RCMP: John Newhouse of the
Ministry of Highways; Lucille Robinson of
ICBC: Alderwoman Marion Miller of Port
Edward, Brian Denton from Canadian
Stevedoring, and School Board
representatives. Committee members
fram Skeena Pulp, in addliflon to Hayes
and Powels, ore Terry Ramin, President
of the BCGEU and Dave Carleson and
Gordon Ronson both from Local 4 of the
Pulp and Paper Woodworkers of
Canada.

“i've been told that cur program ts
unique in terms of the amount of com-
munily support,” said Mayor Lester. “It’s
also the fret time thata private company
like Skeena Cellulose hes taken this kind
of initiative, and made sure that its
employees can actively participate.”

SANDWELL SWAN
WOOSTER INC

CONSULTING
ENGINEERS

* PULP & PAPER
¢ MATERIALS HANDLING
* MARINE & OFFSHORE

* TRANSPORTATION

1190 Hornby Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6Z 2H6
Telephone: (604) 684-9311
Telex:04-51275
Telefax (604) 6889-5913

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